Beam warper



Feb. 18,1947.'

BEAM WARPER 3 Shee-ts-Sheet 1 Filed April 50, 1943 'LTIELT E Feb. 1s, 1947. T. EQ WATSON BEAM WARPER Filed April 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1947.

T. WATSON BEAM WARPER 3 sheet's-sheet s Filed April 30, 1943 Patented Feb. 18, 1947 BEAM WARPER Thomas E. Watson, Tewksbury, Mass., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Cocker Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of North Carolina Application April 30, 1943, Serial No. 485,235

(Cl. ,Z8-39) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to beam warpers, employed to wind a large number of ends of yarn simultaneously on to a single beam, for further processing of the yarns, in preparation for their use as warp yarns in looms which Weave them into cloth.

In winding yarns onto the Wooden barrel of a conventional warp beam, particularly when acetate, viscose, and other rayon yarns are being wound, fiat places, i. e., elevations, hollows, or other departures from a truly circular concentric periphery, develop in the surface of the wound mass of yarn after the beam becomes one-half to twothirds full, In the common type of beam warper, the driving of the beam during the winding is effected by letting its cylindrical surface rest by gravitfg7 directly against a felt-covered cylinder which is power driven and rotates the beam by surface contact with the mass of yarn being wound on the beam, the beam being supported in radius arms so that it can rise as the diameter of the wound mass increases. At the high speeds of warping employed in modern practice, normally running around 400 to 500 yardsper minute, the beam resting upon the driving cylinder jumps and loses Contact therewith momentarily just after passing the low or high spot at the fiat place, and the wound mass of yarn is vpounded by the cylinder when the two surfaces again come together after the jump, and is sometimes scuiTed because the cylinder has increased its Speed While out of contact, both actions tending to cause fracture of the relatively delicate acetate and other artificial yarns. This blow by the cylinder also pounds the turns of yarns together, wedging them together and impeding the free unwinding; toward the end of the winding of a full beam the bounding often becomes very violent, interfering with the proper functioning of the warper and speeding up wear and tear on the machine. Additionally, in this type of beam drive when the brake which is necessarily located on the driving cylinder or its shaft is applied to stop the winding whenever an end breaks, the beam and cylinder do not slow down at the same rate,

and there is a sliding or skidding action between the two unequally traveling surfaces which puts a shine on the yarns which is highly objectionable on delustered yarns such as acetate and viscose.

To overcome these drawbacks warpers have been built in whichthe driving of the beam is effected through the spindle on which the warp beam is mounted in the machine. This type of drive in existing structures requires expensive fixtures applied to both heads of the beam, which take time to set up in changing beams. Also, these machines employ compressor rolls bearing against the surface of the wound mass with considerable pressure to lay the warps evenly onto the wound mass and to crowd the selvage yarns laterally into close relation to the beam heads, so that these latter Warps will be wound on the same radius and at the same rate as the intermediate Warps, to unwind correctly. However, many of the same faults are inherent in the compressor roll as in the driving cylinder. Hence this drive leaves considerable room for improvement.

Still another attempt has been made to overcome the faults of the cylinder drive machine, and also of the spindle drive machine, through driving the beam by means of small rubber-surfaced rollers having narrow treads frictionally engaging the peripheries of the flanged beam heads. In this machine, there is no provision whatever, like the compressor roll, to control the laying-on of the yarns, nor is there any means for braking the beam to stop its rotation for piecing-up a broken end. v

The present invention aims to overcome these and other drawbacks of prior beam warpers and to provide an improved machine of this type vfor the beaming of yarns of all sorts and particularly of rayon yarns.

To these ends, the beam warper of the invention drives the beam tlnough engagement of the peripheries of the beam heads with the outward surfaces of driven belts each carried on a pair of pulleys, forcing the beam heads against the belt surfaces to cause one run of each belt to conform to and contact a prolonged arc of the periphery of each head and to enter into prolonged and tight frictional engagement with such driving belt. Preferably these driving belts are made of rubber composition or at least their surfaces against the beam rims are of this or similar material having a high coefficient of friction, so that their grip on the rims is adequate for quick acceleration of the beam and also, more important, for checking the rotation of the beam instopping the latter with the utmost promptness when an end breaks.

To keep the rate of travel and thus the tension of the warps uniform as the diameter of the wound mass on the beam increases, the driving belts are driven through a variable speed drive controlled by the diameter of the wound mass, so that the speedp-f rotation of the beam is reduced 'in direct accord with the growth of the wound mass and regardless of the length of yarn wound.

vTo effect an even and accurate distribution of the warps throughout the length of the warp beam, rendering unnecessary the pressure of the.

customary driving cylinder, Vor of the compressor roll employed for this purpose in the spindle drive machines, the expansion comb is positioned as close as practicable to the barrel of the beam and to the Wound mass accumulating thereon. To provide for beams of different head diameters, the comb is preferably mounted for adjustment toward and from the axis of the beam, so that it can be brought just as close thereto as the diameter of the beam heads will permit. By thus shortening the radius of gyration of the free eX- tent of the .warps from the combto their point of `tangency on the Wound mass, they are guided each into proper position in the length of the beam Without overlapping onto the previous 'wound turns of adjacent warps, and with correct location of the turns of selvage warps clear up to theV inward surfaces of the beam heads, thus producing a beam havinga level profile produced without applying any outside compressing force thereto which could pound or scuff or fracture the yarns, and one which unwinds ,smoothly without tangling, and without breakage of ends as a result of the pounding action.

Of course, since there is no driving or compressor roll to engage theLWound mass, all vibration resulting from the pounding of s uch roll is eliminated, with consequent reduced Wear and tear on the warper and better performance of the machine.

`Otheraims of the invention, and the manner in which they are attained, are madeplain hereinafter.

' A n illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown-in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig-' 1 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a beam warper embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation of the warper of Fig. l, omitting the beam-handling and holding devices shown in Fig. l.

v Fig. 43 is a partialplan view of the same machinewith the combs and their appurtenances and the beam-handling mechanism omitted. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig.- 5 is a view in horizontal section on 'line 5 5 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 6 is aY detail plan view of the beam-handling and supporting mechanism of Figpl, the

beam hooks being of modified form.

The improved warper comprises end frames I, rigidly spaced apart, on one of which a stud shaft 3 is xed by one of its ends, while the other endis held in the depending end-portion of a bracket 5, Figs. 2 and 3,v of inverted L'shape Xed to the inside of the end frame. On this shaft rotates` freely a pulley'jl having multiple Vp-grooves in its face and driven by V-belts 9 from Y power take-off pulley H of a variable speed'drive unit l3 of standard or any preferred type, driven by"electric -motor I5. APulley l' drives a gear il free on shaft 3 by, means Aof `a clutch i9 operated througharm 2i', link 23 .and lever 25 throughthe usual footetreadle 2l extending across the front ofthe machine A(Fig. V1)'. Achain-beltg transmits the drive from gear I1 to a gear 3i fixed on shaft 33 extending across the machine and rotating in bearings in the frames.

Pulleys 35 are fixed on shaft 33 the length of a Warp beam apart, each having a wide V-face 3T in which travels a V-belt 39 which passes around a similar pulley M fixed in correspondingly spaced relation on a shaft 43 rotatably mounted in bearing boxes 45 slidably mounted in ways el in the frames l, The two belts 3S drive the pulleys il and shaft e3. Engagement of one run of each belt 32With the rim of each head of the beam providesthe means for driving and braking the beam during the Winding.

The warp beam 56 having wide heads 5d is mounted as usual on a simple shaft or spindle 49 which rotates with the beam. For the purposes of the invention, a cylindrical bearing 52 in the form of a sleeve fitted closely but freely upon the ends of the shaft is slipped over each protruding end of the shaft. The beam is then rolled along theiloor into position in front of the machine, with the rim of each beam head 54 opposite one of the belts 39. Beam handling arms 5l of usual construction and operation as in Fig. 1 are then engaged with the two protruding ends of the shaft alongside of the sleeve bearings by means of their hooked extremities, and then by clockwise angular rotation of crank arm 55 by the usualmanually-operated worm-and-gear drive (not shown) the beam flanges are rolled up over the lower pulleys 4l into approximately the full-line position of Fig. 1, resting against the belts 3S. In the formV of Fig. 6, arms 5l terminate in chains 5 3 having hooks at their free ends, foi` the same purpose.

ToY support the beam in its running position with rm driving and braking contact of the rims of its anges with the outward driving surfaces of V-belts 39, the sleeve bearings 52 are each received withina cap 58, Figs. 1 and 6, pivoted at ifl'upona member 52 fixed to a plate 64 in rabbeted and overlapping engagement with a second plate integral with the upperrend of a rack 65 sliding in ways B8 on the inside of each frame lbf the machine. A clamp-screw in a slot in plate @d holds the parts in proper adjusted position. After being swung back to receive the bearing 52, each'capV 58 is fixed in position by a pin 'lll pivoted at 12 on the other end of cross bar 64, and shouldered to form a reduced threaded eX- tremity received in a slot in the free end of cap 58, whichr latter is held thereto by a thumb nut i4. Pin 'l0 hangs down out of the way of shaft 4S and bearing 52 when cap 58 is swung up and over to provide for the donning and doing of the beam.' Each rack 66, Figs. 1 and 4, is actuated by a pinion |6on a shaftlB rotating in bearings 8l) Vfixed on the machine frame and rotated through bevel 'gears 32 from a shaft B4 operated by handle outside the frame I. A ratchet 88 fixed on shaft 84 is engaged bva pawl 9B pivoted on the frame,

`Thus, by manipulating handle 86 the rims of the two beam heads 54 are each pressed and held in firm frictional driving and braking engagement ,with one run of each belt 39. VThis run of each belt supports the thrust of thebeam flanges against it at the two points where such run is ,tangent Ato the two pulleys 35 and 4l, and by means of.a screw 92 having threads of opposite `handsat its two ends respectively connected to the bearings of shafts v33 and A3 Vthe spacing of mediate stretch of belt in this run to hug closely the periphery of its beam. head throughout the arc where the beam head enters partway between the two pulleys. This gives a driving and braking contact over a prolonged area of the ri-m of each beam head, instead of merely two line-contacts at the tangent point to each pulley 35, 4|. With the rubber-surfaced belts 39 ample frictional grip is thus attained on the beam at the point of maximum radius thereon to accelerate it and also to check its rotation with the greatest promptness. The half-box formed by bearing cap 58 is sulicient to maintain each bearing 52 in non-rotative running position.

The full beam is dofed by taking the load on the hooked ends of beam handling arms 5|, lifting pawl 98 to let off the strain on rack 66, releasing and swinging back cap 58, letting pin drop down out of the way, and then rotating crank 56 reversely to lower the beam to the oor where it can be rolled away.

The arrangement of the rack 86 which provides for shifting the axis of the beam toward and from the pulleys 35, 4| makes it possible to wind beams having a wide range of head diameters, the machine frames being recessed at points nearest the sleeve bearings 52 to permit the latter to take positions required by smaller beam heads.

The mechanism for reducing the angular velocity of the beam 5|) to keep the linear speed of the surface of the wound mass and hence of the warps 94 uniform as the diameter of the wound mass on the beam increases comprises a feeler roll 96 of light shell construction weighing around one pound, rotatably mounted on a shaft held parallel to the beam axis in the free end of a bent lever Q8 supported on a pivot IIJIJ in connection with one frame I, a short arm of such lever above the pivot being connected by a chain |02 with the control lever |04 of the variable speed drive i3. Feeler roll 95 is held against the beam ba'rrel or the surface of the windings thereon by a contracting spring |35, so that as the diameter of the wound mass increases the control lever !84 will be swung counterclockwise in Fig. l to reduce the speed of the drive and the angular velocity o1- the beam so that the linear speed of the yarns drawn on to the changing circumference o-f the wound mass will remain constant. Control chain |82 is guided around sheaves |88, H6, H2, and beneath a sheave I4 made adjustable vertically to lengthen or shorten the effective length of chain |02 so as respectively to increase or reduce the linear speed desired for the particular character of yarns being wound. In any of the settings of roll ||4 the angular rotation of the beam is reduced at a rate maintaining the linear speed of the yarns constant.

To arrest the beam promptly upon breakage of an end, or whenever desired by the operator, a brake drum |I8 is Xed on the left hand end of shaft 33 carrying the upper V-pulleys 35. Inside the brake drum are expanding brake shoes (not shown) operated in usual manner by heavy springs and connections to both the treadle levers and the customary automatic warp stop motion (not shown). .As usual, depression of treadle 2l or actuation of the warp stop motion simultaneously disengages clutch |9 and applies the brake H5. The extended arc of contact between belts 39 and the rims of beam heads 54, operating at the maximum possible radius on the beam gives driving and braking control of the latter without resort to contact with the warps in any way whatever, permitting extremely rapid acceleration of the beam and making it possible CII to stop the beam from full speed in less than one revolution of the latter, thus bringing itl to rest more promptly than possible through contact with the surface of the wound mass as heretofore, and of course without the skidding action which previously put a shine on the yarns.

The provision for distributing the warps evenly throughout the length of the beam comprises an expanding comb |28 of usual type comprising pins guiding the individual ends of yarn onto the beam in spaced relation to each other, mounted in links pivotally connected at their extremities, with the links arranged in zigzag relation and adjustable to greater or less angular inclination to each other by means of a screw |22. This usual structure is in accordance with the invention mounted upon a pair of angle irons |24 the ends of which are fixed to lugs |28 projecting obliquely downward from the downwardly inclined surface |29 of slides |38 sliding vertically on ways 32 formed on an open framework |34 fixed to each end frame of the machine, and having in it guide ways for one end of the usual lease-comb |36. Slides |38 are adjusted vertically by means of a chain |38 attached to a lug on the top of each slide and passing over a pulley |48 on the framework |34 The chain thence descends vertically and has its end attached to a drum `|44 fixed on a sha-ft |46 mounted in bearings in the framework |34. This shaft is rotated by a handle |48, the shaft being held against rotation after adjustment by a pawl and ratchet (not shown) similar to 88, 98 used on shaft 84.

By this means, comb |28 is adjusted into as close proximity to the barrel of beam 50 as the particular diameter of beam heads thereon will permit, so as to engage and guide the yarns immediately before they enter between the beam heads 54. As the beam lls, the length of each yarnl from its guiding point in comb |20 to its point of tangency on the wound mass becomes ever shorter, and the guiding of each end into its pro-per position ever more accurate. A rod |58 supported in connection with the comby |29 leads the warps through the teeth of the comb.

It is to be noted that comb |28 engages and guides the warps after they have passed around the usual roll |52 about which the warps change direction from horizontal to vertical travel. It has been the practice heretofore to run the yarns over this roll after passing through the expansion comb, with the result that grooving of the cloth cover of this roll throws the ends together into groups thereon, so that the yarns through lack of any means for separating them again reach the surface of the Wound mass in groups forming ridges around the wound mass and causing overlapping of the turns on the adjacent ends, which means tangling and breakage when unwinding. Location of the comb |20 to form the ultimate guiding means, engaging the yarns subsequent to the roll |52, and in closest possible proximity to the winding surface, overcomes this drawback and makes unnecessary the function of the former driving cylinder or the compressor roll in ironing out the ridges and attempting to get a smooth prole on the wound mass.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the same is not to be limited to the exact details shown but is capable of variation and modification within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

LfIn a beam' warpenin combination, a warp beam having circular beam heads, a belt, spaced pulleys around which the belt travels, means drivingv the pulleys and belt, and means maintaining the rim of a beam head in engagement with the belt.

2. In a `beam warper, in combination, a warp beamhaving circular heads, a belt, spaced pulleys around which the b'elt travels, such pulleys engaging the inward surface of the belt 'and at least one thereof driving the belt, means driving such pulley, and means supporting the beam for revolution'and maintaining the rim of a beam head in driving engagement with the outward surface of the belt.

- 3. In a beam warper, in combination, a warp beam having circular heads, a belt, spaced pulleys around which the belt travels, sucn pulleys engaging the inward surface of .the belt and at least one thereof driving the belt, means driving such pulley, and means causing the rim of a beam head to press against one run of the belt.

4. In a beam warper, in combination, a warp beamhaving circular heads, means supporting the beam for rotation, a belt, spaced pulleys Vpressing one lrun of the belt into conformity with an are of the rim of a beam head, means driving at least one of the pulleys to drive the belt and thus to rotate the warp beam, and means maintaining the rim of a beam head in engagement with the belt.

5. In a beam warper, in combination, a pair of pulleys, a belt traveling around such pulleys, power driving means for at least one of such pulleys, and means supporting a warp beam for rotation with the rim of one of its heads against one of the runs of the belt and forcing the beam head toward and vpartially between the pulleys.

6. In a beam warper, in combination, a pair of pulleys, a belt traveling around such pulleys, power driving means for at least one of such pulleys, and means supporting a warp beam for rotation with the rim of one of its heads against one of the runs of the belt and forcing the beam head .toward and partially between the pulleys, including'a slidably mounted rack and a manually operated pinion.

7. In a beam warper, in combination, a pair .of pulleys, a vbelt traveling around such pulleys,

power driving means for at least one of such pulleys, means supporting a warp beam for -rotation with the rim of one of its heads against one' ofthe runs of the belt and forcing the beam head toward andI partially between the pulleys, and a brake arresting the rotation of at least kone of the pulleys.

driving power from the -variable-speed driving means to the pulleys and belt to revolve the beam, braking means arresting the beam, and means governed by the diameter of the wound mass of yarns on the beam controlling the speed of the variable-speed driving means.

9. In a beam warper, in combination, a warp earn, means frictionally engaging a surface in connection with the warp beam to impart rotation to the beam, journals extending out from the ends of the beam, beam-handling devices lifting the empty warp beam into the warper and lowering it out of the warper after it has been filled, bearings for the journals, and rack-andpinion means in connection with suoli bearings, and independent of the said beam-handling devices, moving Vthe warp beam toward and from the rotation-imparting means.

' THOMAS E. WATSON.

REFERENCES* CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911,944 Easton May 30, 1933 1,988,918 Reiners et al. Jan. 22, 1935 2,033,738 Reiners et al. Mar. 10, 1936 485,225 Prest Nov. 1, 1892 1,795,506 Reiners et al Mar. l0, 1931 2,324,612 Lambach July 20, 1943 1,653,397 Gowan Dec. 20, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,952 British 1907 39,351 Swiss Mar. 22, 1907 

